Releasble rod coupler



July 29, 1952 .1. s. PAGE RELEASABLE ROD COUPLER Filed June 30, 1947 g sg I 'Ill lNvE/vrae page ' flrraeNEV Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES EPAYEENT @FFICE RELEASABLE ROD CGUPLER John S. Page, Long Beach, CaIif., assignor to Page Oil Tools Inc., Long Beach, Gal-it, a cor- ?poration of California Application June 30, 1947, Serial No. 758,152

8 Claims.

This invention has to do with a releasable ro'd coupling and is more specifically concerned with a coupling for use in or in connection with sucker rods, or the like. It is a general object of the present invention to provide a rod coupling of the character referred to which is simple, practical, and dependable.

Sucker rods, as used in wells to operate pumps, or the like, are made up of sections joined by threaded connections, it being common to provide lengths of rod with threaded pins at the ends to provide couplers that join the lengths of rod which couplers have threaded sockets receiving the pins.

In practice the rod operated equipment or possibly even the lower end portion of the string of rods itself becomes fouled, or stuck, in which case'the operator is confronted with the problem of removing the rod and, if possible, the stuck part or parts. Although the connections employed in the string of rods are simple threaded connections, the rod cannot be released from a pump part, or the like, by mere rotation in a direction to release a threaded connection, since there is no way to determine which connection will release. As a result of'this situation when a rod operated pump part, or the like becomes stuck it is usually necessary to employ cutting and fishing operations which are slow and costly.

In other cases pumps of large diameter are desirable on small diameter strings of tubing but this becomes impractical or cumbersome with ordinary equipment without providing for release of the sucker rod from the pump before the tubing is pulled to remove the pump.

A general object of the present invention .is to provide a simple dependable coupling for use in a string of sucker rods, preferably in the lower end portion thereof, or between the lower end of the rods and a pump part or the like, which connection is releasable upon rotation of the rods through but a fraction of one turn, which operation is 'not enough to break and release any of the threaded connections employed in the string of rods.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a coupling of the general character referred to involving few simple parts. The structure that I have provided involves but two principal working parts, namely a stem section with a head and a sleeve section with gripping fingers and the structure is entirely free of complicated delicate or complex parts or structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to 2 which is simple and inexpensive of manufacture and operation. The structure that I have provided, involving but few simple .parts, can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and the construction is such that the operation is simple and dependable.

A further object of the present invention is to'prOVide a structure of the general character 're ferred to which may be incorporated in or as a part of a string of rods, or the like, or which may be advantageously incorporated in an attachment or insert applicable to a string of rods either between adjacent rod sections or between a rod section and a part such as a pump part, or the like.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from' the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the structure provided by the present invention showing it incorporated in a unit in the form of an insert, which unit is shown applied to or coupled in a string of sucker rods. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 'of the structure, showing the parts in "section and in working position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, showing the coupling operated so that the structure is in position where the sections thereof can be moved apart. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure, being an enlarged view of a por--' tion of Fig. 2. v

The structure of the present invention is such that it may be applied to or incorporated in a string of sucker rods as a part thereof. However, it is' preferably incorporated in a unit or insert applicable to a string of sucker rods. In the drawings I have illustrated the structure as a'p-f plied to or incorporated in an insert applicable to a string of rods. Further in practice the structure, whether incorporated in the rod construction itself or whether employed in an insert, as illustrated inthe drawings, may be applied atan intermediate point in the string of rods, that is, between the two ends of the string of rods, or it may be employed between the lower endof the string of rods and a part to be operated by the 3 string of rods, as for instance a pump part, or the like. In the form of the invention illustrated the insert incorporating the present invention is shown employed between adjacent rod sections which ordinarily would be rod sections at the lower end portion of the string of rods.

The releasable coupler A embodying the present invention is shown located between upper and lower rod sections B and C, the coupler A being joined to the rod sections by upper and lower couplers D and In the arrangement illustrated the threaded coupling pin H? on the lower end of the upper rod section B is shown threaded into socket il in the upper end of coupler D. The threaded coupling pin IE on the upper end of rod section C is threaded into socket l3 in the lower end or" coupler E. The coupler E is shown as a standard or common form of coupler employed in strings of sucker rods, in which case it has a threaded socket id in its upper end receiving a part of the coupling device A as hereinafter described. The coupler D as illustrated in the drawings, is provided at its lower end with afdepending threaded coupling pin l5 by which connection is made to the upper end of the coupling device, as hereinafter described.

Thecoupling device A embodying the present invention involves essentially two releasably coupled sections, one a stem section X and the other a sleevesection Y. In addition to the main sections X and Y the coupling device may include a releasable retaining means 29 normally serving to releasably retain the parts X and Y coupled together, stop means 2| locating the sections X and Y in the proper cooperative relationship, and various other elements and features as will appear from the following detailed description. The structure that I have provided is reversable, that is, it can be arranged with section Y uppermost or with section X uppermost, as desired. In the particular case illustrated the section Y is shown uppermost and the parts will be referred to in this relationship it being understood that the invention clearly contemplates a reversal of parts if so desired.

The stem section X of the coupling device is joined to the lower, rod section or to the part to be joined to the lower end of the string of sucker rods so that it forms an upstanding projection thereon. In the case illustrated the stem section X is shown joined to and projecting upward from the coupler E which, in turn, is joined to the upper end of the rod section C.

In the form illustrated the stem section X involves a stem 36 preferably round in cross sectional configuration, with a threaded pin projection 3| on its lower end threaded into the socket is in coupler E. A head 32 is provided on the upper end of the stem 39 and is preferably round in cross section and corresponds in diameter with the stem 3Q. i

In accordance with invention the stem 3 is recessed immediately below or beneath the head 32 establishing a cam portion and providing the head 32 with one or more downwardly facing shoulders 34. In the form of the invention illustrated the desired recessing and shoulder construction is established by cutting away or flattening the stem 36 immediately below the head so that the stem has a plurality of flat sides or cam faces 35 immediately below the head establishing a portion of the stem which is camlike and polygonal in cross sectional configuration, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The constructionjust described is such that the fiat sides 35 d join at edges or ridges 35 which are coincidental with the exterior of the head 32, as shown in the drawings. a

The sleeve section Y has a sleeve-like or tubular upper end portion is internally threaded at 4| to receive the pin projection i5 depending from coupler D. The section Yiurther includes a plurality of depending spring fingers 32 which project downwardly over the head 32 and which have enlarged lower end portions 3 at or opposite the polygonal porticn of the stern formed by the fiat sides 35 which enlarged portions have upwardly facing shoulders M that engage under and cooperate with the shoulder portions 3d of the head 32. In practice I provide the section Y with as many fingers d2 as there are fiat sides 35 on the stem section and in the case illustrated, where there are four fiat sides 35 the section Y has four fingers.

The fingers are spaced apart or free of one another and they are resilient so thatthey can expand from a normal working position such as is shown in Fig. 2, to an expanded or released position such as is shown in Fig. 3. It is preferred, in practice, that the inner sides d6 of the enlarged lower end portions 43 of the fingers be fiat sided and such as to seat on or bear against the fiat sides or cam faces 35 of the stem when the sections X and Y are connected, as shown in Fig. 2. The fingers 22 are resilient or spring fin;- gers shaped to normally'bear inwardly or toward the center of the tool so that they normally yieldingly tend to engage and stay coupled with the stern and more specifically with the head 32 of the stem in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The releasable retaining means 29 shown in the drawings involves a lock collar 56 slidably carried on the stem 38 and provided at its upper end with an inclined or pitched lip 5| which cooperates with and normally overlies the tapered or pitched lower end portions 52 of the enlarged portions 43 of the fingers 42. A helical compression spring 53 is provided on the stem 3?) below the collar 50 and normally yieldingly holds the collar up and in pressure engagement with the ends of the fingers. The pitch or inclination or the parts 5| and 52 is such that sufficient outward pressure exerted by the fingers will cause release or downward movementof the collar'allowing the fingers to become free of the collar as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The spring 53 is shown seated on a shoulder ring 66 provided .on the stem 30 at the lower end thereof and immediately above the threaded pin projection 3|. The collar ring 68 may be keyed or otherwise set on the stem 39 and preferably bears against a downwardly facing shoulder 6| on the stem. The ring 69 presents a large shoulder 62 such as to suitably receive the shoulder 63 at the upper end of the-coupler E. With this construction, when the pin 3| is made tight in the socket M the structure finally seats when shouldersBZ and 63 are brought tightly together. The stop means 2| serves to positively stop the telescoping or engagement of the sections X and Y when the shoulder 44 engage with the shoulders 34. In the case illustrated the stem 3|] is provided with an extension 76 above the head 32 which extension is provided with a flat upper end ll forming a stop which directing cooperatively engages the lower end 12 of v the threaded pin I5 which forms a stop on thelower end of coupler D. The parts aresuch that when the coupler D is applied to the sleeve part All of section Y so that the shoulder 13 of coupler D seats against the upper end 14 of the'sleeve 40 the lower end 12 of pin projection [5 is in position to receive the upper end ll of extension 10, at which time shoulders 34 and 44 are in position to register or seat against each other, as shown in'Fig. 2 of the drawings. By providing the coupler D with a pin projection I5 rather than a socket the coupler D may be considered as a part of the structure inserted in the string of sucker rods and through this construction by properly proportioning the parts just described I provide a construction which will couple or latch together snugly or without play such as might otherwise develop undesirable looseness.

In employing the structure of the present invention the sections X and Y are coupled to or joined with the parts B and C in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and when so arranged the structure forms a secure dependable connection through which reciprocating motion may be communicated between the parts B and 0 whether they be parts of a sucker rod or a sucker rod part and a pump part, or the like.

Whenever it is desired to release the coupling device A, as for instance when the part C is stuck or lodged so that it cannot be moved, or when it is desired to release the rods from the pump coupled thereto, it is merely necessary to rotate the upper section B with suflicient force 'to release the means 29 so that the fingers 42 are spread by a cam action and allowed to pass up over the head 32. When the upper section of the structure, say for instance the sleeve section A is rotated relative to the lower section, the polygonal part of the stem serves as a cam cooperatively engaging the enlarged lower ends 43 of the fingers spreading the fingers until the lines of joinder come midway of the flat inner sides 46 of parts 43, whereupon the fingers can be readily dislodged from the head 32 by merely moving the section Y upwardly relative to section X. To accomplish this action it is merely necessary for the operator to pull upwardly and rotate.

With my construction it is possible to re-establish the connection after it has been released or with the parts located in the well by merely lowering section Y over section X until the stop means 2! locates the sections X and Y in position so that shoulders 34 and 44 engage. If the parts should be lowered together into position so that the fingers are held spread by the edges 36, slight rotation is all that is necessary to change this relationship so that the flat sides 46 seat on or against the sides 35, as shown in Fig. 4.

Where the stem extension 10 is smaller in diameter than the head 32, as shown in the drawings, it is desirable to provide a tapered guide part 80 where the extension joins the head, which part serves to guide the parts together when the structure is being assembled or latched together. Further, in the preferred form of the invention the upper end portion of extension 16 is beveled at 8| so that it is readily guided into the opening 82 in the sleeve part below the threaded socket 4 i. It is preferred that the stem extension 10 slidably fit the opening 82 to be guided therein when the structure is assembled.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A coupling of the character described including, two telescopically related sections, one a stem section having a head and a cam part and the other a sleeve section including a spring finger cooperating with the head to hold the sections together, the cam cooperating with the finger to operate it radially outward to aposition for disengagement from the head, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to cause cooperation between the cam and finger,'a spring pressed collar slidable longitudinally on the stem section engaging the finger and wedge means operated by outward movement of the finger to disengage the collar from the finger.

2.,A coupling of the character described including, two telescopically related sections, one a stem section having a head and a cam part and the other a sleeve section including an annular series of spring fingers cooperating with the head to hold the sections together, the cam cooperating with the fingers to operate them simultaneously to a position for disengagement. from the head, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to cause cooperation between the cam and fingers, and means normally yieldingly holding the fingers in coupling engagement with the head including .a spring pressed collar slidable .on one of the sections engaging the fingers, the collar and fingers having cooperating inclined faces normally in engagement the outside diameter of the collar being substantially the same as that of the series of fingers when the fingers hold the sections together.

3. A coupling of the character described including, two telescopically related sections, one a stem section having a head and a cam part and the other a sleeve section including a spring finger cooperating with the head to hold the sections together, the cam cooperating with the finger to operate it to a position for disengagement from the head, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to cause cooperation between the cam and finger, and stop means positively stopping the sections with the head and finger in position for cooperative engagement including a coupler having one end threaded to the sleeve section and terminating in a stop and an extension'on the stem terminating in a stop engaging the stop of the coupler.

4. A coupling of the character described including, two telescopically related sections, one a stem section having a head and a cam part and the other a sleeve section including a spring finger cooperating with the head to hold the sections together, the cam cooperating with the finger to operate it to a position for disengagement from the head, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to cause cooperation between the cam and finger, means normally yieldingly holding the finger in coupling engagement with the head including a collar slidable on the stem and a spring on the stem engaging the collar and normally yieldingly holding it in engagement with the finger, and stop means positively stopping the sections with the head and finger in position for cooperative engagement including a coupler having an end portion threaded to the sleeve section and terminating in a stop and an extension on the stem terminating in a stop engaging the stop of the coupler.

5. A coupling of the character described in-- L cluding, a stem section having a head and a reducedpolygonal portion adjacent the head with sides joining at a ridge flush with the head, and a sleeve section receiving the stem section and having a spring finger with a shouldered outer end engageable with the head to latch the sections together, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to a position where the finger is supported by the ridge to be slid therefrom over the head to disengage the sections.

6. A coupling of the character described including, a stem section having a head and a reduced polygonal portion adjacent the head with a plurality of sides joined to form circumferentially spaced ridges flush with the head, and a sleeve section receiving the stem section and having a plurality of fingers with shouldered outer ends engageable with the head to latch the sections together, the sections being rotatable relative to each other to a position where the fingers are supported by the ridges to be slid therefrom over the head to disengage the sections.

7. A coupling of the character described including, a stem section having a stem, a head, and a polygonal portion between the stem and head, a sleeve section having a sleeve portion and a resilient finger projecting therefrom with a shouldered end portion overlying the polygonal portion and engaging the head, a collar on the stem, and a spring normally yieldingly holding {0 outer end threaded to receive a coupler, a shoulder ring on the outer end portion of the stem, at head at the inner end of the stem, and a reduced polygonal portion between the stem and head with flat sides joined at ridges flush with the exterior of the head, a sleeve section having a sleeve portion, a coupler threaded to the outer end of the sleeve portion and having an end forming a stop, and a plurality of resilient fingers projecting from the inner end of the sleeve portion with shouldered end portions overlying the polygonal portion and engaging the head, an extension on the stem beyond the head terminating in a stop engaging the said end of the coupler to positively stop the sections with the fingers latched to the head, a collar slidable along the stem, and a spring on the stem between the collar and ring normally yieldingly holding the collar in engagement with the finger to hold the finger engaged with the head.

JOHN S. PAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 152,413 Rhinehart June 23, 1874 373,292 Jacobson et al. Nov. 15, 1887 459,951 Warner Sept. 22, 1891 1,405,976 Dhooge Feb. 7, 1922 1,437,939 Green Dec. 5, 1922 2,244,714 Levergcod June 10, 1941 2,302,856 Hamon -1 Nov. 24, 1942 2,327,951 Zaleske Aug. 24, 1943 

